Blackhawks organization really takes their propaganda seriously

Obviously by now, you’ve heard that Comcast SportsNet fired Susannah Collins in the middle of the night. And I stayed up late to get the news out there right away. Because like I said on Chicago Now, it wasn’t Comcast who made the call; it was the Blackhawks decision. The Chicago Blackhawks fired Susannah Collins; so Comcast is really off the hook here.

The Chicago Blackhawks are a business obsessed with message control.

They are like the old Soviet Union when it comes to propaganda; and managing that propaganda. The dismissal of Susannah Collins is yet another example of why Blackhawks President John McDonough is like the Monty Burns of Chicago sports, Jay Blunk is his Waylon Smithers.

As Blunk is McDonough’s little lackey lickspittle.

The Blackhawks probably started watching Collins very closely and scrutinizing her work after she tweeted the following on March 10th following a 4 goal first period by Edmonton…

You know it’s a bad game when the 1st intermission interview is scrapped. #Yikes

— Susannah Collins (@susannahcollins) March 10, 2013

As my “Deep Throat” source pointed out, this tweet probably put her on Blackhawks management radar. Yes, the Hawks would have issue with this.

Despite the fact that it’s pretty light, and barely critical. Despite the fact that the team got smoked in that one period. I know it sounds weird to hear about the Blackhawks performing poorly on the ice; as it’s happened so rarely this season. However, that’s how they roll, no negativity is ever allowed. EVER! Even when it’s deserved.

McDonough and the Short-Round to his Indiana Jones, Blunk have “Cubified” this team. Everything they did with the Chicago Cubs, they brought over to the Blackhawks. The only difference; and it’s a major one, is the Blackhawks are actually competent at what they do. The Cubs have/had sizzle but no steak, style but no substance. The Hawks get it done on the ice, so they get a pass in this town from the media.

Coverage of the Blackhawks has been really soft in this town. There’s a few reasons for this. When the Blackhawks got good, they treated the media the way an ugly girl who all of a sudden becomes attractive treats all the boys who used to make fun of her. It’s pretty, it’s paranoid, it’s not the way a champion and a front-runner should act.

The Blackhawks threw out media who covered the team for 27 years. For no reason at all; just because they could. The Blackhawks Media Relations are TOTAL DOUCHEBAGS. The whole department are a bunch of COMPLETE KNOBS. They’re only following orders from McDonough on high. They’re only executing the propaganda laid down from above.

On my Chicago Now piece from late last night a commenter said: “McDonough=Goebbels”

Now all other media are afraid of the Blackhawks PR. They won’t say anything too critical out of fear of losing their access. Hence, the coverage gets soft.

Susannah Collins isn’t the first reporter to be screwed over by them. Josh Mora was fired (excuse me, did not have his contract renewed) because he reported something that the Blackhawks didn’t like him reporting. Mora reported that the Blackhawks knew Marian Hossa was injured BEFORE they signed him. He also reported the firing of Dale Tallon. McDondough and Blunk just would not have any of that. Even though Mora was only doing his job.

He tweeted today

@susannahcollins Hey.From a guy who has been exactly where you are — you have my complete sympathies.Hope we’ll meet someday.

— Josh Mora (@JAMarketer1) May 3, 2013

Look at it this way. There’s been a fair amount of turnover at the position of CSN Blackhawks beat reporter within just a couple years. Josh Mora. Sarah Kustok. Susannah Collins. Now whoever replaces Susannah Collins. That’s four in four years. This is getting to sound like Chicago Bears QBs in the 1990s or 2000s.

Why so much turnover? Are the Blackhawks that obsessed with controlling the message that they must have someone in there who’s in total compliance at all times?

Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker

Banks has appeared on Comcast SportsNet and the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks)